Lack of defence has Rockets sputtering

Houston Rockets' James Harden goes up to shoot past Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett during an NBA game on Jan. 11. (Michael Dwyer/ AP)

HOUSTON — It’s been an ugly new year so far for the Houston Rockets.

They snapped a seven-game losing streak with an ugly win in Charlotte on Monday and were finally back on their own practice floor Tuesday after playing nine of their first 12 games of 2013 on the road.

Where to begin?

The Rockets averaged 115.8 points during a five-game winning streak from Dec. 31-Jan. 8. They’ve averaged only 94.1 points in the eight games since, and lead the league in turnovers (16.5 per game) heading into today’s game against Denver.

Coach Kevin McHale doesn’t see the offence as the Rockets’ most glaring issue at the moment. Houston also ranks last in points allowed (103.23 points per game), and fixing the defence is McHale’s most immediate priority. “That’s been a concern,” McHale said.

“The offence is going to come and go, we’ve missed a lot of shots during this stretch and we’ve had a lot of turnovers. But we’ve got to tighten up

defensively.”

Following Houston’s 117-109 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers last week, forward Chandler Parsons bluntly evaluated the Rockets’ defence. The Clippers shot 54 per cent from the field and went 11-of-19 from three-point range.

“There’s no excuse for guys just getting blown by or getting just dominated,” Parsons said. “Man up, play better.”

Houston then dropped games at Dallas, Indiana and Minnesota, a skid that culminated in a players-only meeting over the weekend. The Rockets won in Charlotte by outscoring the Bobcats 26-13 in the final quarter — a glimpse of the kind of defence they need to play.

“When we don’t get stops, it doesn’t allow us to get out on transition, where we’re best,” Parsons said.

“It should start on the defensive end, all of us, individually and collectively. Focus in on that.”